THE controversial plan to build a house on the site of former public toilets in a Holt has been thrown out by planners. More than 80 people packed the public gallery as North Norfolk District Council's planning committee gave the thumbs down to the council's own plan to build a detached house on land it owns at Church Street in Holt.

THE controversial plan to build a house on the site of former public toilets in a Holt has been thrown out by planners.

More than 80 people packed the public gallery as North Norfolk District Council's planning committee gave the thumbs down to the council's own plan to build a detached house on land it owns at Church Street in Holt.

The public toilets closed more than two years ago and the council says it needs to gain planning permission so it can assess the value of the land before selling it on.

With a coach load of concerned Holt residents watching on campaigners argued passionately against the proposals.

Holt town councillor Jean Corbett-Jarvis said a residential house would not be in keeping with the other buildings in the street, which included a church, library and shops.

She also said the town council was concerned about access in and out of the house.

Church warden, Dick Copas, voiced objections that a flint wall would have to be removed and that a two-story house would not be in keeping with the conservation area.

During member's discussions on the proposals Holt district councillor Mike Baker raised a cheer from the crowd after speaking.

He said: “It is a matter of democracy as to whether the development is acceptable.

“The honourable thing for us to do is to give it to the people of Holt to develop it.”

Councillors rejected the plan due on highways concerns, unsuitability of the site for residential development, overdevelopment and the loss of the flint wall.

After the meeting, council leader Virginia Gay said she was pleased that it was a free and fair decision and that the process had gone off well. She said that the district council would have to think about what they were going to do next.

Many in Holt feel that the toilet site should transformed in to a community facility and the town council has called for the land to be donated to the town on several occasions.

It is now conducting a study to see what people would like to see built on the site and whether a community facility would be feasible.